Chapter 35
“You saved me?”
Bella frowned.
Maybe she heard wrong.
After all, the only person Blanshe could be referring to was Tristan.
“Yes…”
“Didn’t you tell me you were going to the bathroom? Our Blanshe.”
“…I went, but I felt a bit unwell, so I went to the rooftop to get some fresh air. That’s when I got caught in the explosion, and the Count, who happened to be nearby, saved me.”
“Hmm… Is that so?”
Bella looked at Blanshe.
The black dress she had bought for her was torn.
As a temporary measure, she was covering her exposed skin with Tristan’s coat.
“Yes… I’m sorry. The dress you gave me is ruined.”
“That doesn’t matter. You were caught in an explosion—are you seriously hurt?”
As she spoke, Bella carefully observed Blanshe’s expression.
Trying to detect even the slightest hint of unease.
Feeling that gaze, Blanshe closed her mouth.
Instead, she smiled faintly to hide her anxiety.
“I’m fine. Just a few scratches. I’m sorry for worrying you, Miss.”
“…Well, that’s a relief. Ahem. I suppose we owe the Count… our thanks.”
Bella gave a slight nod to Tristan, who was standing nearby.
A purely professional gesture, devoid of any personal feelings.
“Thank you for protecting my bodyguard knigh—”
“Save the thanks.”
Tristan cut her off.
“…What? Count, you could at least accept a thank you.”
“Wendy. Call the carriage. We’re leaving.”
“Yes, yes!”
Tristan turned and walked away.
Wendy, who had been following, hesitated, then bowed politely to Bella before hurrying after Tristan.
Bella watched the scene in disbelief.
“Seriously…! What kind of man… Blanshe, let’s go too. If we stay here any longer, I might start being rude myself.”
“Yes, Miss. But there’s something I haven’t seen before.”
Blanshe picked up the shopping bags Bella had been carrying.
Specifically, the one with the Ruelcia brand logo.
Seeing it, Bella’s eyes sparkled.
“That? Blanshe. That’s the thing. Listen, let me tell you what happened today….”
*
“Count, the carriage will be here soon…”
“Hmm.”
When Wendy arrived, Tristan was sitting on a bench.
The wind was cool.
His face, slightly bowed, looked dark.
Maybe it was just the sunset.
Wendy cautiously opened her mouth after gauging his mood.
“Um, Count?”
“…What?”
“Well… You know that bodyguard knight of Miss Bella’s? The tall, beautiful one…”
Tristan raised his head.
“Blanshe?”
“Yes… Are you, by any chance, close to her?”
“…?”
Wendy panicked and waved her hands.
“N-no! It’s just… I saw you while shopping… Count! Ah, Miss Bella probably didn’t see you…! It was totally by chance… I saw you going somewhere with her…”
“…I see.”
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to spy…”
Tristan calmly spoke to Wendy, who was still waving her hands.
“It’s fine. She’s an old acquaintance.”
“An old acquaintance?”
“Yes. And an old bad relationship.”
“A bad relationship… So you don’t get along?”
“You could say that.”
I see… Wendy nodded.
Somehow feeling relieved.
Tristan quietly leaned back on the bench.
After all he’d been through today, he even looked a bit pale.
“Count? Are you tired…?”
In response to Wendy’s question, Tristan closed his eyes and answered.
“…A bit sleepy.”
“Then… Since the carriage will take a while, you can rest a bit. I’ll wake you up when it arrives…”
“Hmm.”
Tristan nodded slowly, as if agreeing.
Soon, his breathing grew quieter.
Wendy cautiously sat down next to him.
And glanced at his face.
The tyrant of the mansion, the Empire’s notorious noble, Tristan Ruelberta.
With his eyes closed, none of that was visible.
Wendy had been afraid at first.
That Tristan might kick her out.
That he might get angry.
That he might throw things.
She had always been on edge.
‘But now…’
Wendy felt a different emotion sprouting amidst her fear.
She wanted to do better for him.
She wanted to be helpful to him.
She wanted to be acknowledged by him.
She wanted to be praised by him.
‘And…’
She wanted to live for him.
Wendy looked at the master she served.
“Count…”
No response.
He must have been very tired.
Tristan seemed to have fallen asleep leaning on the bench.
Soon, his shoulder tilted toward her.
“Eek!?”
Tristan’s head rested on her lap.
“C-Count…”
She called again, but still no response.
Wendy froze in place.
For her, it was an awkward situation.
Staying still like this felt strange.
But moving and waking him up was even more troublesome.
And above all, she wondered how it would look to others…
“Huuuu…”
Feeling embarrassed, Wendy glanced around.
It was night, so no one was watching them.
It was quiet.
As if the world had left only the two of them.
A moment that, in terms of time, wasn’t very long passed.
Creak.
The carriage stopped.
Wendy felt the timing was a bit unfortunate.
But it was time to wake him up.
“C-Count… The carriage is here…”
No response.
He must have been deeply asleep, as he didn’t answer.
“Count…”
Wendy had no choice but to touch him.
It felt… warm.
Damp and… huh?
Something was on Wendy’s hand.
Reflected in the moonlight, it was a bright red color.
Blood.
“C-Count?! B-blood…!”
Wendy screamed.
The bench was already soaked with blood.
The source was the blood flowing from Tristan’s lower abdomen.
It was clearly a serious injury.
Since when?!
In a panic, Wendy shook Tristan’s body, but he didn’t wake up.
Seeing his pale face, fear struck Wendy.
“No…! No…! Count…!”
Wendy cried out desperately, not even noticing the blood on her hands.
“P-please, wake up! Count! Please…!”
*
“What a situation.”
Lucy Meikhael was sitting in the audience chamber.
With an endlessly haughty and arrogant posture, exuding the majesty of the Emperor.
Below her throne, a tall man knelt on one knee.
“Were you badly hurt? Marco.”
“No. I’m fine.”
Marco answered in a stiff voice.
Lucy nodded.
“Good. I expected as much from you. But…”
She spoke in a slightly subdued tone.
“The fact that you returned empty-handed means something big happened, right?”
“……”
Marco closed his eyes for a moment.
Choosing the right words in his mind.
Soon, his mouth opened.
“The Count knew. That Your Majesty was ‘two people.’”
“……Hmm.”
Lucy’s eyes widened.
“Truly astonishing. Very few know that.”
Lucy sighed.
A crack had formed in the loyalty of her trusted subjects.
And above all, the Imperial Family was shaken by that man’s words.
“Is there a traitor…? The Imperial Family can no longer be at ease.”
“Your Majesty. Do not worry.”
Marco raised his head.
“I will protect you.”
“I feel reassured hearing that from you. You never make promises you can’t keep.”
Lucy leaned back on her throne.
As if she had lived for centuries, she let out a long sigh.
“I’ll keep watching him.”
“No. That’s enough. Stop the surveillance for now.”
Lucy put on a mask.
The silver antlers glistened in the moonlight.
“Soon… I will meet him myself.”
